Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, inaugurated the Centre of Excellence for Sea Buckthorn at Nimoo on December 4, marking a major step toward scientific cultivation, processing, and structured value-chain development of Ladakh’s “wonder berry.” He said the Centre will transform the region’s rural economy by empowering farmers, modernising cultivation practices, and positioning Ladakh as the national hub for sea buckthorn innovation.

Ladakh, which accounts for nearly 64% of India’s sea buckthorn–growing area, has the potential to emerge as the Sea Buckthorn Capital of India, the Lt Governor said. However, he noted that production remains low due to traditional harvesting methods and the absence of organised processing systems. The Centre of Excellence aims to address these gaps through research, training programmes, and farmer-centric capacity building.

Calling the Centre a comprehensive platform for farmers, FPOs, SHGs, women entrepreneurs, and youth, Kavinder Gupta said it will help them adopt scientific practices, improve product quality, and explore high-value avenues such as nutraceuticals, cosmetics, herbal medicines, juices, and oils. He added that the initiative will support climate-resilient farming and open new livelihood opportunities across rural Ladakh.

Recalling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s repeated mentions of sea buckthorn during his Mann ki Baat broadcasts, the Lt Governor said the PM recognised its medicinal potential and considered it a symbol of Ladakh’s ecological richness. The Centre of Excellence, he stated, is a direct step toward realising the PM’s vision of developing sea buckthorn through scientific and organised interventions.

He further highlighted the plant’s crucial role in soil conservation, land restoration, and sustainable livelihoods. With the Centre’s establishment, Ladakh aims to partner with national and global research bodies to strengthen the sea buckthorn value chain and expand its international market footprint.

Emphasizing inclusive economic growth, Kavinder Gupta said the Administration is committed to ensuring that economic benefits reach households at the grassroots level. He urged local communities to actively participate in cultivation, harvesting, processing, and entrepreneurship to make Ladakh’s sea buckthorn mission a collective success.

The Lt Governor appealed to Ladakh’s youth to rise above dependence on government jobs and seize emerging opportunities in value addition, food processing, nurseries, eco-tourism, agri-startups, packaging, and marketing. He encouraged them to utilize schemes such as Start-Up India, Stand-Up India, PMEGP, and Mudra Loans to build sustainable enterprises, noting, “Ladakh’s youth must become job creators, not job seekers.”

Later, the Lt Governor released a book on sea buckthorn authored by DIHAR Director Dr. O.P. Chaurasia, Horticulture Director Dr. Tsewang Phuntsog, and Dr. Stobdan of DIHAR.

Earlier, Administrative Secretary Bhupesh Chaudhary briefed that the Centre of Excellence was conceptualised in 2019 and later sanctioned by the Government of India at a cost of ₹7.89 crore. He highlighted the plant’s strong antioxidant properties—often described by the Prime Minister as “Sanjeevani Booti”. He added that although sea buckthorn grows wild, efforts are now underway to promote its systematic cultivation for economic gain. Farmer trainings and a food processing unit have also been established at the Centre.